VOGONS


First post, by Trinki

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Hello,

I've got 486 PC which I'd like to use with a bunch of ex-industrial ISA cards to run some of my experiments. However I ran into some address/IRQ problems, which most likely are caused by network card, which is PnP autoconfiguration-something. (Card in question is Allied Telesis AT-1700BT). So, I wanted to change its settings for set of known-free memory locations and IRQ. And that's where the problem is. According to the user's manual, special software is needed to change the settings, which was supplied on floppy. I searched google, archive.org and some other funky websites, but no luck. I even contacted Telesis directly, but they said that it's way too old, and they can't help me with that. So finally I decided to ask here if anybody could help me with getting that software.

I could just buy different network card, but I can't afford that now and in the near future. This one came with the PC, so I want to just use it.
I could in theory change settings on the other cards, but some of them have fixed address logic and/or fixed IRQ connections (I don't want to physically modify them) and after whole day of thinking how to fit all that in AT address space.... there's only one option, so the network card must cooperate.
Plan B is to desolder configuration EEPROM, find suitable adapter for my programmer and rewrite its contents, but I'd have to figure out how it's organized, as datasheet for the main chip (MB86965A) doesn't specify it clearly.

Manual for card in question is available at archive.org: https://archive.org/details/generalmanual_000016073

Reply 1 of 5, by dionb

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Reading the manual, it talks of a "setup17" file to run. So I googled "setup17.exe" and found this:
https://www.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=47288

It's supposedly for the AT-1720, but given the file name is the same, I'd say it worth trying. I don't have the card myself, but the download looks legit - no malware I could scan, and the contents looks like installer disk for a 1990s NIC, with DOS, OS2, SCO, VINES, WFW311 and WINNT-95 folders.

Reply 2 of 5, by Trinki

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Thanks for the link, it seems that this might be it, I'll boot it tomorrow and check if it indeed works.

Reply 3 of 5, by dionb

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Almost certain it will. Just extracted the READ.ME file and it states:

************************************************************ ** ** ** […]
Show full quote

************************************************************
** **
** ATI AT-1700 Network Adapter Card **
** Card Assistant Release 2.2 **
************************************************************

Reply 4 of 5, by Horun

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Good find ! DriverGuide is a very good and safe source for files IMHO.

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 5 of 5, by Trinki

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

It worked, thank you so much for help 😀

Next time I shall remember to search by executable names when they're given.